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Gov. Mike DeWine, in a sit-down interview at the Governor's Residence.

DeWine, Lawmakers had Smooth First Year, but Disagreed Over Taxes in Budget

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In his first year as governor, Mike DeWine seemed to get along well with state lawmakers – including those who’d had a fractured relationship with his predecessor, John Kasich. But there were some disagreements. (NOTE: The full interview with Gov. Mike DeWine will air on “The State of Ohio” this weekend. Watch it at the link posted here.)… Read More

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A pile of plastic bags

Ban on Local Plastic Bag Bans Passes House on Mostly Party-Line Vote

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Local communities wouldn’t be able to ban single use plastic bags under a bill the Ohio House has passed – mostly along party lines – and sent on to the Senate. House Speaker Larry Householder (R-Glenford) supported the ban on bans of “auxiliary containers” such as plastic bags and other products, saying retailers need uniform rules. “There… Read More

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Amy Obhof has been teaching social studies for 13 years. She enjoys mixing her love of art into her lessons.

Number of Schools in Ohio’s Biggest Voucher Program Soars Under New Rules

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Ohio’s public schools could lose millions of dollars to private schools through an expansion of the state’s biggest voucher program. New rules on criteria for the EdChoice program in the most recent budget have increased the number of school buildings considered “failing” by more than 400 percent. Last year, 238 buildings were considered failing. That will be… Read More

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Construction began on repairs to the crumbling earthen dam at Buckeye Lake in March 2015. Water levels were lowered, which upset residents, businesses and visitors. The project ended in November 2018.

Ohio is Watching More Than a Hundred Dams in Poor Condition

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Just over a year ago, the $100 million project to repair the crumbling earthen dam at Buckeye Lake was finished two years early.  But the state is looking at dozens of the 1420 dams in Ohio that could be failing. The state says 124 dams are in poor or unsatisfactory condition. ODNR Director Mary Mertz says her agency… Read More

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A row of desks in a classroom with a backpack hanging up on the back wall

DeWine Suggests He’s Open to Changing Grades for Ohio’s School Report Cards

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A study by lawmakers of the state’s often-criticized school report cards is due on December 15. And Gov. Mike DeWine is signaling that he’d be ok with lawmakers once again making changes to that system. Report cards assign single letter grades to all districts and buildings based on six factors, including student achievement, graduation rate,… Read More

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Gov. Mike DeWine, with Dean Christopher Peters of the University of Akron School of Law behind him, announces his expedited pardon process at Ohio State University's Moritz College of Law. Students from the two schools will help screen applicants.

DeWine Creates Process to Expedite Pardons for Some Former Offenders

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Gov. Mike DeWine says he wants to make it easier and quicker for people who have long-ago criminal convictions to be considered for pardons. DeWine says he often sees pardon applications for murderers, rapists and other offenders. “They got a snowball’s chance in hell of getting granted, some of them. And so they’re kind of… Read More

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A pile of plastic bags

Opponents Urge Lawmakers to Toss Out Ban on Plastic Bag Bans

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State senators considering one of two bills to ban local bans on plastic bags heard from around 40 opponents, who either came to a committee hearing or sent in written testimony. There were local officials talking home rule, including Ben Kessler, the mayor of Bexley, one of three communities that has enacted a ban on plastic bags. “That’s something… Read More

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Brittany Robertson and Audrey Napier are the mother and grandmother of 11-year-old Elizabeth “Lizzie” Robertson-Rutland, who died after two cars hit and then ran her over as she was walking to her school bus on Sept. 18.

Lawmakers Consider Hiking Penalties For Drivers Passing School Buses

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State lawmakers are looking at a bill that would hike the penalties for passing a school bus as it’s picking up or dropping off kids. Audrey Napier’s 11-year-old granddaughter Lizzie Robertson-Rutland was run down and died while walking to her school bus in Columbus one early morning in September. “We don’t want any other family to have… Read More

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Columbus' Easton Town Center is fully decorated for the holiday season.

Ohio Retailers Expecting a Slight Spending Boost this Holiday Over Last Year

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Ohio’s more than 7,000 retailers are expecting a slight increase in sales this holiday season over last year, though where those spending increases are projected may be a surprise. For the eighth year in a row, Ohioans are expected to spend more this holiday season than the previous year. The Ohio Council of Retail Merchants… Read More

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The Statehouse building

Lawmakers Pass Tax Break Bills, but Also Say They’re Concerned About Them

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State lawmakers have touted their support of a bill that eliminates the so-called “pink tax” on feminine hygiene products and gives a tax credit to teachers buying supplies. It also restores a $250,000 income tax break for lawyers and lobbyists. And it can seem to be a mixed message Republican leaders are sending on tax policy. This… Read More